M.S. in Computer Science Bio/Cheminformatics Option

Admissions Criteria and Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Master of Science Program with a Bio/Cheminformatics option typically have an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related discipline such as mathematics, physics, biochemistry or engineering. Students wishing to enroll in the Master's program in Computer Science with Bio/Cheminformatics option must demonstrate competency in the knowledge areas listed below. Competency in these areas is usually demonstrated by producing a transcript of previous academic experience which contains related courses passed with a B or better, or by earning a B or better in the courses listed below. Competency in the biology and chemistry area may be demonstrated by successfully passing a CLEP exam. Additional information regarding these exams may be obtained at the CollegeBoard website. The following are the knowledge areas in which competency must be demonstrated:

Three additional courses will be taken from the list of approved bio/cheminformatics approved courses. The list below is for example only and it includes the current approved courses. This list will be updated as new courses are added to the program.

81.505* (3 credits) Bioinformatics

81.507* (1 credit) Bioinformatics Laboratory (coreq. 81.405)

81.519 (3 credits) Biochemistry I

81.520 (3 credits) Biochemistry II

81.501 (3 credits) Selected Topics I

81.502 (3 credits) Selected Topics II

81.567 Recombinant DNA Techniques

84.651 Selected Topics in Chemistry: Protein and Chemical Informatics

84.550 (3 credits) Biochemistry I

84.551 (3 credits) Biochemistry II

84.567 (3 credits) Biocheminformatics

84.568 (3 credits) Computational Chemistry

84.570 (3 credits) Advanced Protein Chemistry

84.580 Advanced Analytical Biochemistry

92.593 (3 credits) Experimental Design (Mathematics Department)

Although Organic Chemistry is not required as a prerequisite, some of the courses offered as part of this degree rely on knowledge of this subject.

Students should be aware that the above courses may only be used toward the Bio/Cheminformatics option. If the entire requirements of the option are not completed then these courses cannot be applied in isolation toward the M.S. in Computer Science.

Program Total: 30 credits (assuming prerequisites have been filled)

An optional master's thesis can be substituted for at most 6 credits, and may be used to substitute for one pair of related courses.